Dow Coating Materials invests in a production facility in Saudi Arabia
FOCUS with about 10% of nano-silica exhibited a lower level of crystallinity, possibly due to impedance of the long chain arrangements and the formati...
FOCUS with about 10% of nano-silica exhibited a lower level of crystallinity, possibly due to impedance of the long chain arrangements and the formation of lamellae. Micro-hardness tests showed that the amorphous pure PEEK coatings exhibited lower hardness than the semi-crystalline coating. The addition of nano-silica particles improves the coatings hardness. The addition of well dispersed nano-particles into the PEEK matrix could improve the stiffness of the matrix by restricting the slippage, reorientation and motion of polymer chains, leading to an increase in hardness. It is suggested that the smaller filler particles are more effective in increasing the hardness. Adhesion tests measured by pull-off adhesion strength gave much better results for the nanocomposite coatings. The quenched coatings also exhibited higher adhesion strength than the air cooled panels. However, some cracks were observed at the interface of the unmodified PEEK with the substrate, and these might lead eventually to a decrease in adhesion strength. This may be due to the higher density of the crystalline phase than that of the amorphous PEEK, or internal stresses formed during the cooling stage. It is known that adhesion between two surfaces will be high if they show similar surface energies and low if there is a large discrepancy between the two. It would appear that the presence of the nano-silica promotes good surface wetting. Tribological performance was assessed by frictional behaviour, and measurements of the coefficient of friction (COF) showed that the COFs of the nano-composite systems are higher than the unmodified systems. The differences are less pronounced between the quenched and air cooled samples. The amorphous pure PEEK has the highest wear rate and the wear rate tends to increase at higher scratch loadings. Both the JUNE 2012
BASF inaugurates new application centre at the site in Oldenburg German company BASF Coatings (subsidiary of BASF Group) will strengthen its global business in industrial coatings with the inauguration of a new application centre at the site in Oldenburg. The company invested €1 M in the centre which will not only strengthen the facility in Oldenburg but also the global business of industrial coatings. The new unit includes a spraying cabin for larger objects, several